Lister was born Thomas Brown but took on his mother's maiden name when acting professionally to avoid confusion with another actor going by the name Tom Brown. He is married to a primary school teacher and they have two sons. He has also remained friends with the actors who played his brothers on-screen, Nick Miles and Matt Healy. He is a devout Christian. He is also an avid Liverpool F.C fan.
Acting career
He studied at Birmingham School of Acting for three years, pursuing his dream of being an actor and graduated in 2001. He went on to appear in such television series as Heartbeat, Doctors and The Bill. In February 2004 he got his big break when he debuted on the British soap operaEmmerdale playing Carl King a role which he maintained until his departure from the serial on 18 October 2012, following eight years, after his character was murdered in the show's 40th Anniversary live episode. Over the Christmas/New Year period of 2012/13, Lister appeared as Captain Hook in the Sunderland Empire pantomime, Peter Pan. He made his musical theatre debut in the world premiere of The Water Babies at the Curve in Leicester on 24 April 2014. He played the character Grimes. In 2014 Lister began touring the UK as Wild Bill Hickok in the musical Calamity Jane. In 2017 Lister began playing Julian Marsh in a West End revival of 42nd Street at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane alongside Sheena Easton as Dorothy Brock and Clare Halse as Peggy Sawyer.
Other appearances
Lister appeared alongside his Emmerdale co-stars Lucy Pargeter, Nick Miles, Kelsey-Beth Crossley and Nicola Wheeler as the King family in a special episode of All Star Family Fortunes, playing against Coronation Street's Webster family and winning. He also appeared as singer Jamie Cullum in Stars In Their Eyes. He is also lead singer of the band Edna's Hat, which also features Emmerdale co-stars Sian Reese-Williams and Dominic Brunt, an Emmerdalecrew member and a friend. He also works with the anti-trafficking organisation Hope for Justice.
Awards
Lister has been nominated for "Sexiest Male" and "Villain of the Year" awards at The British Soap Awards on various occasions. Other acclamations include:
In 2007, Tom, along with Lucy Pargeter, won Best Couple at the Irish TV Now magazine awards for their portrayal of Chas and Carl.
In 2009, Tom won Favourite Male Soap Star at the Irish TV Now Magazine awards for his portrayal of Carl King.
